Occults need more focus - AGAIN

"Apricus;c-18006972" wrote:
Another thing: They don’t even have to buy it! It’s an optional pack. You don’t want occults? That’s fine, just don’t buy it and let people who want them be instead of only supporting them adding what YOU want.

People are passionate about getting certain things in the game, and when one pack is made, that pack takes up a spot and development time that will never be able to go to something else.

Not buying it doesn't magically change that. People are still disappointed, so let them be disappointed. Just like you all are disappointed currently with the lack of occults.

"BariSaxy;c-18007108" wrote:

"Apricus;c-18006972" wrote:
Another thing: They don’t even have to buy it! It’s an optional pack. You don’t want occults? That’s fine, just don’t buy it and let people who want them be instead of only supporting them adding what YOU want.

People are passionate about getting certain things in the game, and when one pack is made, that pack takes up a spot and development time that will never be able to go to something else.

Not buying it doesn't magically change that. People are still disappointed, so let them be disappointed. Just like you all are disappointed currently with the lack of occults.

The thing is that there’s obvious favoritism to one side of the community vs the other. The last occult was in 2019 I believe (please correct me if I’m wrong).

"InuMiroLover;c-18006967" wrote:


Honestly some realism players need to quit being so horribly melodramatic whenever an occult focused pack dares to rear its ugly head in front of you. Realism play isnt under attack like you think it is, not every pack that comes out is going to be immediately up your alley.

My thing is more the ever lasting debate against "Family players" and "occult players". I do play occults the most but they too have families.

"BariSaxy;c-18007108" wrote:

"Apricus;c-18006972" wrote:
Another thing: They don’t even have to buy it! It’s an optional pack. You don’t want occults? That’s fine, just don’t buy it and let people who want them be instead of only supporting them adding what YOU want.

People are passionate about getting certain things in the game, and when one pack is made, that pack takes up a spot and development time that will never be able to go to something else.

Not buying it doesn't magically change that. People are still disappointed, so let them be disappointed. Just like you all are disappointed currently with the lack of occults.

Would you rather more Occults be included in EPs? They could lessen the "normal" content in there to make way for some fantastical like they used to in previous games. Then everyone gets something. No more waiting two+ years for Occult content for us, or realistic players complaining that a whole pack went to them. Include Occults in the bigger budget in every EP. Like you said, packs take up development time and people get disappointed. Just think of all the Occults we could have if they'd done that from the beginning.

As it is, anti-Occult players have always had the majority of EPs and the bigger budget development to themselves, save for Get To Work and Island Living, which weren't even thorough with the Occults they did have. And you're telling us, what, to just be quiet and accept it and let them express their disappointment because a couple of smaller Game Packs don't cater to them? Yeah, how about no. I think you've wandered into the wrong thread.

In Sims 3 the supernatural elements were just there... in almost every expansion, and highlighted in the Supernatural Pack. They were a part of the overall theme and gameplay.

Just on a guess, I'd say the whole reason for S4 isolating Vampires and Spellcasters into their own packs was to allow people who didn't want those elements in game to opt out and to give that gameplay more room to develop for those that did want it. Mermaids and Aliens were included in larger packs but made so unobtrusive that you have to go out of your way to encounter them. I think the intent was to allow realism players the option of ignoring or just not adding the occult elements. Yet, people bought the packs, knowing the supernatural gameplay was there, and in the case of Vampires and ROM, even featured. They still complained and the games got nerfed.

I think there are still a lot of fun, real life inspired things that the game can do. I just think it's sad when most people talk about wanting realism, they mostly talk about cars, cuddling, and babies they can take out for a stroll. The basics, the cake if you will, of realistic play are there. We're just talking about adding more layers of icing.

But the supernatural play still needs more cake. Just ask a cowplant.

The first pack I ever bought on sims4 was vampires. It provided so much gameplay and change despite only having 1 pack. I’ve used it a lot, including it’s items. How hard is it to avoid vampires themselves? Most of them are stuck in the neighborhood, you can turn off Vlad sneaking in your house at night in settings (I haven’t had that happen in a while, please tell me they didn’t remove that when it’s literally OPTIONAL). I run into a lot of vampire sims while playing other households but that’s because I made them. Just turn off the option, avoid the neighborhood, and delete the vampires in it.
And now that I think about it more..

Alien abductions were nerfed too, I believe? I don’t know for sure because that’s just what someone said and you know how all that goes so I may be incorrect. I’ve played since 2017 or 2018, something like that, which isn’t really that long but y’know, and I’ve only had ONE alien abduction. It was out of nowhere. Before it supposedly got nerfed of course. Even in a previous save I did tons of stuff to attract them but nothing. If it’s that hard already, why would you change it?

We don’t have near as much stuff as realistic players and they nerf what we do have. A lot of my occults don’t even show their special needs such as hydration for mermaids. If we ever get werewolves, mark my words: They will not be up to par. It might be nice, but it will be held back.

Realistic players aren’t bad, and not all of them are against occults. I just wish they was more mature about it. I play families A LOT too, but obviously I play occults as well. . My sim had like 23 babies just because I was always wanting more children in my families, and decided to go for it and have as many as I want, but I often incorporate occults into my storylines.

"Sindocat;c-17977300" wrote:
EA/Maxis has actually shared the opposite sentiment, quite recently. They know Occults are popular and in demand, and have given us non-confirmation confirmation that more could be in the works. That is, they said as much as they ever CAN say about future plans that are not final, in a recent 411. Let me dig out the actual statement:

Will there be werewolves, fairies, and zombies in The Sims 4?
Maybe? Maybe! We definitely hear the occult fans' strong desire for werewolves, faeries, and zombies in The Sims 4. We can’t confirm at this time when they'll make their way into the game but rest assured, we would want to put as much love and thoughtfulness into them as we did for Vampires and Spellcasters. For now, our roadmap continues to be focused on improving content that is in the game. That said, stay tuned and prepare your Sims for a relaxing refresh of one of our existing Game Packs coming up soon!

(source)

No - it's not confirmation of coming content, but it is surely confirmation that they are aware of interest. But it is also an admission that as of last month, the Roadmap is focussed on polishing existing content - which has also been much requested. I am optimistic for my occults in the long term, however, myself.

One thing that I have realized when they make statements like this is that they don't really matter...

We have seen that the packs that they release could be anything. They have more or less an endless supply of ideas that they can turn into content for the sims4, and because they are dragging out everything and releasing everything in small updates or paid content in small packs... them saying that they "know what the fans want" doesn't mean that they will release it or they will not release it until several years later.

I'm sorry, but after 7 years, their history kinda speaks for itself. You might end up getting werewolves and faires, but probably not until they have released several other packs first. Those packs might not necessarily be bad.

I myself wanted farming, and I got it, this summer, I played for two weeks and then I got bored, I had more fun with Dream Home Decorator. A pack which I had no idea that I would enjoy.

So it's complicated, I don't think "we know that fans want werewolves", will mean that you will get a good pack with werewolves. You might end up getting a bad pack with werewolves and a good pack with fairies. Or you will get a completely different pack but you might end up liking it more, or less.

I think some players need to step back and remember that the game isn’t all about them. There are as many ways to play Sims as there are Simmers. If the developers are wise, they know this, and also know that not everyone will be satisfied with every release. It’s impossible to please everyone.

Look at farming, for example. This was one of the realism players most requested packs. Players have also been complaining that everything is too American and they want more diversity. So Cottage Living comes out with a different take on farming. Instead of midwestern American agriculture, we got a new and different English cottage farm take. Immediately the complaints started: where’s my tractor? Where’s my horse? I need pigs!

So not everyone is going to like everything. That’s okay. The remedy is to buy and play the things you like without trying to force others to play the same way. Realism players might just have to pass on a few Supernatural packs, just like I pass on toddlers and family play.

On the flip side, I’m also ready for family packs. Generations perhaps. People was talking about a romance pack which I would love, I just want occults more. Apparently there’s been a lot of hints dropped for a music pack, which I personally don’t want that much but that’s okay.

"temporalgod;c-18007584" wrote:

"cyncie;c-18007569" wrote:
I think some players need to step back and remember that the game isn’t all about them. There are as many ways to play Sims as there are Simmers. If the developers are wise, they know this, and also know that not everyone will be satisfied with every release. It’s impossible to please everyone.

Look at farming, for example. This was one of the realism players most requested packs. Players have also been complaining that everything is too American and they want more diversity. So Cottage Living comes out with a different take on farming. Instead of midwestern American agriculture, we got a new and different English cottage farm take. Immediately the complaints started: where’s my tractor? Where’s my horse? I need pigs!

So not everyone is going to like everything. That’s okay. The remedy is to buy and play the things you like without trying to force others to play the same way. Realism players might just have to pass on a few Supernatural packs, just like I pass on toddlers and family play.

Both University and Cottage Living are England based, and Snowy Escape was Japanese based, it's a real shame that the Devs had to remove the shrines since those were part of Japanese culture, after Snowy's backlash, I doubt the Devs would want to branch out to other countries like Canada, Scotland, Greece, France, Korea and Egypt, so they're playing it safe.

your mention of Scotland made me think of the Selkie (which is actually Irish but still)
I’m very well aware nothing like it will be added, since it’s not really the sims style and we have mermaids, but I think it would be so cool for them to be added. I wonder if I could do something with mermaids and heavy story building, to make that come true in my game.